"There will be leaders who will not be led by my guidance and who will not adopt my ways? There will be among them men who will have the hearts of devils in the bodies of human beings. I said: What should I do Messenger of Allāh, if I (happen) to live in that time? He replied: You will listen to the ameer and carry out his orders; even if your back is flogged and your wealth is snatched, you should listen and obey."

As for ruling by other than what Allāh revealed, and abandoning prayer, then this is certainly disbelief in action. It is not possible to negate the name of disbelief from him after Allāh and His Messenger (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) have called him that.